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Partnership plans - A Living Landscape - Biodiversity Plan for the Peak District
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Partnership plans
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| Name |
Description |
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| 25 Key Actions |
Each of the Habitat and Species Action Plans have been written so that, as far as possible, they can stand alone. However, throughout many of the Action Plans there are recurring themes and actions, some of which are central to meeting the Biodiversity Action Plan’s objectives and targets as a whole. 25 Key Actions, to complement the actions in individual Habitat and Species Action Plans, are therefore identified. Proposed implementing organisations are listed, with lead agencies identified. |
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| Blanket Bog |
The following objectives and targets for blanket bog aim to retain and enhance this very important habitat, for which the Peak District supports approximately 1 % of the U.K. total. They recognise that the quality of blanket bog in the Peak District is often poor as a result of historical over-grazing, accidental burns and high levels of atmospheric pollution. This has resulted in low species diversity and often extensive areas of bare peat, some of which may be beyond restoration. Such degraded areas may however be important for birds such as the golden plover. The targets below are in line with the Peak District’s pro-rata contribution towards the national targets for blanket bog, but will require careful judgements about what degree of favourable condition can feasibly be achieved in the Peak District given the historic legacy of degradation. Though very much influenced and shaped by man, blanket bogs retain their primeval and ‘wild’ nature. The fragile ecology of blanket bogs, their condition and potential for enhancement is complex. It is hoped that this plan will initiate action which will find solutions and answers to the conservation problems of this unique habitat. |
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| Curlew |
The curlews haunting, melancholy call and distinctive outline are an integral part of the Peak District moorland, moorland fringe, White Peak plateau and river corridor landscapes. Working together with farmers and other land managers we hope to secure the future of this ‘herald of the spring’ by both safeguarding existing breeding sites and by increasing the area of suitable breeding and feeding habitat. |
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| Derbyshire Feather-Moss |
The Peak District holds the sole, world responsibility for Derbyshire feather-moss. The hope is that we can implement and support the relevant actions to safeguard the species for now and for future generations. |
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| Generic Grasslands |
These actions are generic across most or all of the grassland Action Plans. |
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| Generic Moorlands |
This set of Actions is generic across both Blanket Bog and Heather Moorland Action Plans |
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| Generic Wetlands |
This set of actions is generic across the Ponds and River Corridro Habitats Action Plans. |
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| Generic Woodlands |
These actions are generic across at least two of the Upland Ashwoods, Upland Oak/birchwoods, Wet Woodland, and Parkland and Veteran Trees Action Plans. |
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| Hay Meadows |
The targets below are ambitious but with commitment, resources, realistic financial incentives and a willingness by farmer and landowners, they are achievable. It is hoped that these targets can be turned into real action, benefiting conservation and the farming community. The realisation of the objectives will ensure that hay meadows, one of our most evocative and characteristic habitats of the countryside, with their array of flowers and grasses and their strong cultural links are not just a romantic memory. Through a co-ordinated effort we can not only save what we have left of these special places but enhance others, extending the resource of meadows, linking important sites and ensuring that birds such as the skylark can still breed in the Peak District and that the swathes of colour and texture of meadows can still be enjoyed by future generations.
The target for bringing existing flower-rich hay meadows into favourable management is in excess of national BAP targets since the HMP has already taken a considerable step towards this. This target reflects the potential to build upon the momentum in hay meadow conservation, which has been generated by the HMP.
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| Heather Moorland |
With the realisation of the following ambitious targets the majority of the Peak District moors will be in or developing towards a healthy state by 2010. Here a wealth of diverse habitats will flourish providing for a host of wildlife from the internationally important birds to the specialist plants of the moorland flushes. In a favourable state, the moorlands will hopefully be able to withstand other major changes, such as the adverse effects of climate change and pollution. Where moorlands are currently in a poor state, years of positive management may be needed to achieve the objectives since there are rarely quick-fix solutions. This is recognised by the realistic time-scales for achieving the favourable condition targets.
The proposed Peak District target for restoration is ambitious, almost double that of the pro-rata contribution towards the national target for upland heath (1800ha, based on the fact that the Peak District supports approximately 0.5 – 0.8 % of the U.K.’s upland heathland). This ambitious figure reflects the enormous potential for restoration in the Peak District in that there are extensive areas of suitable habitat for restoration and that expertise for effective techniques is available both locally and nationally. The target of 3500 ha also equates to over 50 % of the estimated loss of moorland in the Peak District between 1913 and 1979 (6500 ha). The mapping work carried out by Moss in 1913 in the Peak District provides a fairly unique historical perspective on moorland change and can hopefully be used as a tool for targeting suitable areas and as inspiration for achieving those targets. The options for achieving re-creation (Objective 5) are more limited in the Peak District since suitable areas are limited. The target here is in line with the Peak District’s pro-rata contribution towards the national targets for upland heath.
It is hoped that organisations and land mangers can work together to manage the moorlands positively, enhancing existing habitats, restoring areas of former heath and allowing natural moorland processes to continue to shape the Peak District moors for the future. With a committed approach and targeting of energy and resources, the future of the moors can be secured, continuing to provide an essential part of the upland economy in the Peak District and enabling a continuation of the enjoyment and pleasure that people derive from these inspiring wild places.
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| Lapwing |
The lapwing has declined alarmingly in the Peak District in the last 30 years, so that its distinctive ‘pee-weet’ call and dramatic display flight, once one of the commonest sounds and sights on upland farms, is now absent in many areas and is in danger of disappearing altogether. Intimately linked with farmland, the future for the lapwing in the Peak District rests with everyone - policy makers, conservation agencies, farmers and landowners. Together we need to implement actions which will maintain the existing population in the short term and aim to see a measurable increase in population and range over the next 10 years. |
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| Lead Rakes |
The objectives and targets reflect the value of the lead rakes and the alarming losses of this important part of the Peak District cultural heritage, landscape and wildlife. Perhaps more than any other habitat they are a vivid reflection of the rich resources provided by the geology of the Peak District, its use by mankind over the centuries and nature’s response to the harsh environment of the abandoned mines. Today, less than 260 ha of lead rakes remain. This is all that remains of not only the complex vegetation communities and their important plants but of the surface representation of the history of mining in the Peak District. A willingness by those responsible for their future, to work together is fundamental: the farmers and landowners, the mineral companies and the Biodiversity partnership. With comprehensive knowledge as a basis, solutions can be found. These may at times involve compromise and understanding for all involved but with a shared vision to cherish the special history and wildlife of lead rakes these targets can surely be achieved. |
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| Limestone Dales |
The following objectives and targets are ambitious, in excess of the national targets. In part this reflects that the majority of the dales are within existing statutory sites, which adds to the resources available for the implementation of conservation measures. It also reflects how important the Peak District is for this habitat. Undoubtedly the dales are scientifically important, particularly for their impressive calcareous grasslands. But they are also special places of beauty and to some they effuse spiritual qualities. With their steep sided valley slopes, impressive rock outcrops and ancient screes they can be visually striking. The dales are often a surprise, hidden from the White Peak Plateau and rarely traversed by roads. On a small scale they harbour a myriad of nooks and crannies full of contrasts, beautiful flowers, lush ferns and mosses, or strange rock formations. It is hoped that organisations and land managers can work together to manage the dales positively. Not only to enhance and conserve the immense wealth of wildlife found in the dales, but to ensure that these unique areas, found nowhere else in Britain, can be enjoyed and appreciated in the future. |
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| Limestone Heath |
The proposed targets for securing favourable management and condition are higher than regional and national targets since limestone heaths are a very rare and special resource. Essentially they are all that remain of a landscape that once characterised the White Peak, and now exist as a window into the past. Targets for restoration and creation are also higher than national targets because of the small area of limestone heath remaining in the Peak District. A total increase in resource in the region of 40 – 50 % is proposed. Every effort needs to be made to secure the conservation of every site. Furthermore, energy and resources need to be directed at opportunities for restoration and creation where this will contribute to a rich resource of limestone heath for the future. |
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| Parkland and Veteran Trees |
This habitat, once probably one of the commonest in Britain, is now very scarce throughout Europe. Britain currently holds a high proportion of these sites that are in many ways relics of the once extensive ‘wildwood’ that clothed much of Europe some 7000 years ago.
The conservation and enhancement of this valuable habitat contributes not only to our cultural heritage but also to a very special resource of gnarled and weather-beaten trees, shaped through time by man’s management and the actions of the many species that are dependant upon them. Preservation of these species is dependant on our management of the host tree (their life-line) within a hospitable landscape. This broad habitat requires protection, enhancement and expansion to ensure that there are future generations of trees to sustain this grand and atmospheric habitat.
The targets for conservation and restoration of parkland are in line with the proportions expected from national targets. Isolated veteran trees are not covered by national targets, but are likely to hold interest locally and may be a much loved and well recognised feature of local communities. Therefore, relatively high targets have been set to reflect their importance and the opportunities that may exist for community involvement in the recording and monitoring of such trees.
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| Ponds |
To be a credible nature conservation target and to safeguard the integrity of the pond network, the aim must be to maintain a substantial proportion of the existing pond resource with an emphasis on the maintenance of networks of linked pond clusters, and in an ideal world to create new ponds. In this way ponds will continue to contribute to a rich and diverse wetland flora and fauna in all three Natural Areas of the Peak District. Objectives and targets have therefore been set at a level which is considered very ambitious but, with concerted effort, may be achievable. |
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| Priority Birds |
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| River Corridors |
River corridors traverse the Peak District ranging from limestone dales, broad shale valleys and small moorland edge streams, to gritstone cloughs. Many wetland habitats are of limited extent owing to years of drainage and agricultural improvement. Many river and stream-sides are also ecologically impoverished owing to adjacent non-sympathetic land-uses. The responsibility lies with conservationists, farmers, landowners and relevant agencies alike, to safeguard existing habitats of interest. And, where possible, to encourage restoration or re-creation of a rich mosaic of river corridor habitats to provide corridors and sanctuaries for wetland wildlife. In this way we can hope to both safeguard and re-vitalise our river corridors, with a diverse assemblage of wetlands, flood meadows, wet woodlands and rich waters edge communities supporting both rare and more common species and those increasingly under threat in our ever more pressured countryside.
The Peak District objectives and targets for river corridors reflect their importance for:
i) key national and Peak District biodiversity species including Derbyshire feather moss, white-clawed crayfish, bullhead, brook lamprey, water vole and, potentially, otter;
ii) a range of species and habitats which are uncommon locally including aquatic invertebrates and river corridor wetlands and their constituent species;
iii) their very important contribution to the landscape and to the whole picture of biodiversity within the Peak District.
For a landscape as complex as a river corridor, setting objectives and targets needs to be in the context of the habitats considered to be of the greatest significance. This can only be assessed on a site by site basis and will need to be the first action in any programme of river corridor assessment and conservation management. Priority assessment needs to consider habitats of local or regional importance that contribute to the local distinctiveness of the Peak District, including marshes, wet woodlands and flood meadows. It also needs to consider the localities and conservation needs of both nationally important and locally significant river corridor species including water voles, crayfish and rare or uncommon plants or plant communities. The locations of both important habitats and species also needs to be taken into consideration in the initial assessment of what constitutes a ‘key’ river corridor. The priority needs to rest with conservation of the habitats of exi |
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| Rough Grazing |
The extensive areas of rough grazings are a unique part of the Peak District landscape. Ecologically they are a varied resource and the plan recognises that each site will need to be individually assessed. The targets below reflect this importance but are intended to be realistic, recognising that each site will be unique in terms of its conservation requirements. For example, restoration of upland heath may be appropriate at certain sites. Others, important for their grassland but perhaps in poor condition may need challenging and innovative solutions to management problems. It is recognised that farming has not only created these extensive rough areas, often on prominent and striking hills, but it is also essential to their future. To take these targets forward into real action will require co-operation from wide ranging organisations and land managers.
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| Rush Pasture |
The objectives and targets outlined below have been chosen to reflect:
i) The importance of the rush pasture habitat for internationally, nationally and regionally important bird, invertebrate and plant species,
ii) The contribution that rush pasture makes to the moorland/farmland interface and to the landscapes of the South West Peak and Dark Peak Natural Areas,
iii) The presence of two ESAs within the BAP area which should be able to make a significant impact on the conservation and enhancement of the rush pasture habitat.
Rush pastures form a distinctive habitat with tussocky and unruly appearance and reflect decades of hard toil by farmers, struggling to farm marginal and difficult land. They now provide an essential habitat for many important birds, plants and invertebrates. The targets are very ambitious but with resources and targeted effort they can be achieved. The realisation of the actions will ensure that these rough marginal fields remain an important part of the character of the Peak District. It is hoped that the conservation and enhancement of this habitat will be accompanied by a reversal in the depressing decline in marshland plants and important birds such as the curlew.
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| Twite |
Intimately linked with both hay meadows and heathland, the future for twite in the Peak District seems at best uncertain. Co-ordinated and targeted action between all involved will be essential if we are not to lose this special ‘moorland linnet’ and with it a symbol of upland farming. The objectives and targets respect both the short and long term RSPB aims. |
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| Unimproved Pastures |
The targets are ambitious since flower-rich unimproved pastures are an increasingly rare part of the Peak District countryside. As with other grasslands their conservation will be challenging. Fundamental to their existence is farming, but their future seems bleak without the right environmentally friendly economic incentives for farmers. It is hoped that these often small pastures will continue to support a profusion of wildflowers, grasses and insects and will provide feeding and nesting sites for birds and small mammals. It is only by directing co-ordinated energy and resources that this vision will be realised.
The targets below for bringing existing unimproved pasture into favourable management are in excess of national BAP targets. This reflects the potential to build upon action to date and recognises the importance and continued loss of unimproved pasture. The targets for re-creation are lower than the national targets, since unlike many lowland areas of Britain there is an enormous potential in the Peak District for restoration of unimproved pastures.
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| Upland Ashwoods |
Hugging the steeper slopes of the limestone dales ashwoods are an integral and dramatic component of the rich mosaic of habitats found within these steep rocky valleys and, as such, are a characteristic feature of the White Peak.
The future for upland ashwoods in the Peak District lies in a woodland resource where the current extent, range and quality of the habitat is not only protected, but where initiatives are instigated to bring more of the available habitat into favourable conservation condition. Opportunities will also be pursued to expand and link woods in order to create a robust and well connected ash woodland network, as part of the varied landscape of successional daleside habitats ranging from open grassland through scrub to woodland.
Peak District targets have therefore been set to reflect the opportunities which are perceived to exist locally to fulfil this vision. In recent times the area of ash woodland has increased with a reduction in the levels of grazing. Many woodlands are now either bounded by extensively farmed calcareous grassland of high nature conservation value on the steeper slopes or areas of agriculturally improved and intensively farmed grassland, on the more moderate slopes. Due to this situation the main opportunities for an increase in the nature conservation value of these woods lie with bringing the existing ashwood resource into favourable condition (Objectives 1 and 2) and restoring areas of plantation woodland to native cover (Objective 3). The targets set for these objectives are in line with the proportions expected from the national BAP targets. Local objectives have also been set to identify sites for potential expansion of ashwoods onto un-wooded sites, although it is recognised such opportunities may be limited to small areas, for example, quarry restoration schemes. As such area expansion figures have not been set and these targets will necessarily be less ambitious than expected from the national BAP.
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| Upland Oak/Birchwoods |
A positive future for upland oak/birch woodland lies with an expanded and inter-connected network of well managed woods spanning the many moorland fringe areas and extending into the enclosed farmlands along cloughs and valley sides to form an integral component of the upland habitat mosaic. Objectives set by this action plan therefore address issues relating to both the current condition of these sites (Objectives 1 and 2) and to the potential for future expansion and restoration of the wider woodland network (Objectives 3 and 4).
Owing to the long time-scales involved with woodland management the action plan targets set have taken a staggered approach towards bringing oak/birch woodland areas into favourable condition. These targets are roughly in line with those of the national BAP. The action plan objectives for woodland expansion and restoration are more ambitious than national targets in reflection of the perceived opportunities for relatively rapid actions to occur through the conversion of plantation woodlands to native cover and the expansion of woodland cover within currently degraded, partly wooded upland cloughs.
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| Water Vole |
Threatened by habitat destruction and modification, by competition and predation, water voles show a very divergent picture of success across the Peak District with some streams and rivers supporting apparently thriving populations whilst extinction stalks many others. Survey and monitoring work must be used to target and prioritise the habitat management, advisory and policy work which will prove essential if we are to reverse the local declines and conserve the existing populations. This will only be possible through co-ordinated action involving the public, landowners and conservation agencies and by using every opportunity available. Local objectives need to be set based on an assessment of existing survey and monitoring results, coupled with the experiences of a number of recognised naturalists. The hope is that we can once more see our childhood favourite – ‘Ratty’ of the ‘Wind in the Willows’ – in its riverbank home throughout the Peak District. |
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| Wet Woodlands |
Wet woodland is a habitat of surprises, often comprising a hidden and diverse spectrum of woodland types occurring over waterlogged land. Many sites remain as true un-trodden wildernesses of intertwining branches, standing dead and fallen wood, pockets of rushes and sedges broken through with flushes and glades of sunlight. The future of this variable and unusual Peak District habitat depends on protecting the current extent and quality of exisitng sites and enhancing the degraded woodland network by concentrating efforts to reduce the fragmentation of this scattered habitat. Ultimately such a process should lead to a larger, inter-connected and more robust wet woodland network of increased nature conservation and landscape value.
The greatest opportunity to achieve targets has been identified as occurring within the closely linked action plan targets for expansion/restoration of riparian upland oak/birchwood within the Dark Peak. It has been assumed that 10 % of this new riparian oak/birchwood will essentially be wet woodland. Additional opportunities for expansion occur with the restoration of quarries and other mineral sites. Opportunities in the South West Peak are more limited, especially in view of the importance of wet pasture for breeding birds. Most opportunities are likely to be in plantations (mainly conifer) where wet woodland would have been the dominant habitat, e.g. in cloughs and valleys. Within the White Peak Natural Area only small scale expansion is possible, for example in quarries, along railway lines and in the bottom of some limestone dales.
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| White Clawed Crayfish |
Historically children searched for white-clawed crayfish under stones and in crevices in stream and river banks. This is now an activity of the past, with the white-clawed crayfish a species tottering on the brink of survival within the Peak District. If we are to keep it as a constituent part of our biodiversity then urgent action is needed to both safeguard existing populations and allow for expansion in the range and numbers of the species. Although much of its demise may be due to crayfish plague and the spread of non-native crayfish, it is also very sensitive to water quality and habitat modification. Loss of this species from Peak District rivers and streams would be a sad reflection on our management of this crucial habitat. |
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